Sixth inning dooms Reading Phillies

The Connecticut Defenders scored four runs in the sixth inning and held off the Reading Phillies for a 5-4 Eastern League win Saturday afternoon at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn.

The Defenders (8-8) scored in the first when Andrew Carpenter (1-3) gave up a single and three straight walks to force in a run.

The Phillies (8-8) tied the game in the second on a single by Neil Sellers and an RBI double by Jeremy Slayden.

Connecticut scored four two-out runs in the sixth to take control. Pinch-hitter Simon Klink's bases-loaded infield single made it 2-1. A Reading error plated another run and Kyle Haines followed with a two-run single to make it 5-1. Three of the runs were unearned.

The R-Phils came right back in the top of the seventh, scoring three times. Two runs scored on infield errors and the third on a bases-loaded walk to Greg Golson. But Osiris Matos induced a double-play grounder to end the inning.

Adam Cowart (1-1) allowed a run in six innings to get the win. Sergio Romo pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his league-leading sixth save.

Golson, Juan Tejeda, Slayden and Brad Harman each had two hits for the Phillies, but Reading was 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.